Balsam spurge

Balsam spurge is one of the most common species in the dry scrub vegetation found in many places on the Canary Islands. The species is well adapted to dry and hot environments: it can store water in its branches, and the surface area of its leaves is relatively small, which reduces evaporation and thus conserves water.

In Africa, it is often used as a hedge plant and as living fencing around fields. It is easy to propagate from cuttings and contains a toxic, white latex, which means it is rarely eaten by livestock and other herbivores.

We obtained the plant as a cutting from a botanical garden in Switzerland in February. We hope that it will thrive and, over time, grow large here in the Mediterranean section of the greenhouses.